Ken Climo

Last updated
Ken "The Champ" Climo
— Disc golfer —
Personal information
NicknameThe Champ. The People's Champ.
Born1968
Clearwater, FL
NationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Career
Turned professional1988
Current tour(s)PDGA National Tour
Professional wins229
Number of wins by tour
PDGA National TourOpen: 14
Masters: 6
Best results in major championships
PDGA World Championships Won: Open: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006
Masters: 2012, 2014, 2015
USDGC Won: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007
European Open Won: 2007
Japan OpenWon: 1993, 1994, 1995
Achievements and awards
Disc Golf Hall of Fame 1995
PDGA Male Player of the Year1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007

Ken "The Champ" Climo (born March 27, 1968, in Clearwater, Florida) is an American professional disc golfer considered by some to be the best professional disc golfer of all time. Climo has claimed twelve PDGA World Championship titles, including nine in as many years from 1990 to 1998. [1] The only other golfers to achieve multiple World titles are Harold Duvall (1982, 1985), Barry Schultz (2003–2004), Nate Doss (2005, 2007, 2011), Paul McBeth (2012–2015, 2019, 2022), Richard Wysocki (2016, 2017) and Isaac Robinson (2023, 2024). In addition to his world titles, Climo has an unequalled record in the United States Disc Golf Championship (the premier event in the game), earning five titles (1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007). Named PDGA player of the year seven times, Ken Climo was inducted into the PDGA Hall of Fame in 1995.

Contents

He competed in the World Championships masters division for the first time in 2012, at the age of 44, and won by a large margin, securing his 13th world championship title. He has added 2 more world titles to his resume since then (2014, 2015).

During his three decades in the PDGA, Climo has notched 103 [2] aces.

Climo, with Innova Discs, has created his own special blend of plastic, known as KC Pro. Several popular disc molds are available in KC Pro, including the Aviar and Roc. Climo spent 26 years as an Innova sponsored player. His departure from the brand was announced on November 27, 2024. [3]

Professional career

Open division

Climo has 221 wins in the Open Division, the most all-time, including 12 World Championships and 5 US Championships. [4] He was the first player to ever win the World and US Championships in the same year.

PDGA Pro World Championships (12)

YearLocationStroke MarginWinning ScoreRunner UpPrize Money
1990Scottsdale/Mesa/Fountain Hills, AZ-1(43-47-43-47-45-45-45-46-46-45=452)Sam Grizzaffi$2,042
1991Dayton, OH-10(45-48-48-49-48-42-41=321)Eric Marx$2,700
1992Detroit, MI-9(44-43-46-41-53-47-45-42-52-29=442)Crazy John Brooks$3,500
1993Huntsville, AL-4(47-44-45-46-43-45-50-45-44-25=434)Dean Tannock$2,539
1994Port Arthur, TX-18(47-60-47-45-42-45-46-54-50-27=463)Joe Mela$2,500
1995Port Arthur, TX-4(46-50-41-50-41-45-47-53-48-27=448)Mike Randolph$2,350
1996South Bend, IN-3(48-49-48-40-51-49-44-42-41-20=432)Geoff Lissaman$3,600
1997Charlotte, NC-7(45-50-48-47-47-46-49-46-49-23=450)Scott Stokely$3,000
1998Cincinnati, OH-4(47-46-47-49-48-47-48-46-26=404)Scott Stokely$3,581
2000Ann Arbor, MI-8(62-61-60-45-50-49-61-25=413)Barry Schultz$7,303
2002Houston, TX-14(51-47-44-52-48-45-43-46-46-25=447)Barry Schultz$4,500
2006Augusta, GA-5(51-50-45-45-65-47-46-23=372)Nate Doss$5,500

Other majors (8)

YearTournamentStroke MarginWinning ScoreRunner UpPrize Money
1993Japan Open-13(43-44-44-43-44-21-26=265)'Crazy' John Brooks$4,350
1994Japan Open-12(47-45-49-45-47-21-22=276)Marcus Cisneros$4,350
1995Japan Open-10(47-45-45-48-46-29-27=287)John Ahart$4,350
1999US Disc Golf Championships-15(51-50-49-54=204)Alan Schack$1,400
2000US Disc Golf Championships-5( 59-55-54-58=226)Alan Schack$2,000
2002US Disc Golf Championships-6(60-58-59-60=237)Barry Schultz$8,000
2004US Disc Golf Championships-5(56-66-69-64=255)Cameron Todd/Darrell Nodland$10,000
2007European Open-8(50-54-50-51=205) David Feldberg $5,480
2007US Disc Golf Championships-11(63-58-56-56=233) Avery Jenkins $15,000

Major playoff record (0-1)

YearTournamentOpponentResult
2003US Disc Golf ChampionshipsBarry SchultzLost to birdie on tenth extra hole [5]

National tour (14)

YearTournamentStroke MarginWinning ScoreRunner UpPrize Money
2003Bell South Open-3(45-47-47-41-27=207)Barry Schultz$2,500
2004Bell South Open-3(43-47-49-43-26=208)Keith Warren$2,500
2004Masters Cup-5(77-75-70-27=249)Barry Schultz/David Feldberg$2,500
2005Golden State Classic-1(57-55-61-57-32=262)Barry Schultz/David Feldberg$1,500
2005Greater Des Moines Challenge-8(52-48-44-51=195)Coda Hatfield$1,500
2005Skylands ClassicPlayoff(44-59-51-52=206)Steve Brinster$2,100
2006Melbourne Open-4(64-67-68-26=225)Johne McCray$1,500
2006Masters Cup-11(76-72-67=215)Steve Rico$2,000
2007Bowling Green Open-1(43-49-48-47-25=212)Coda Hatfield$2,000
2007Golden State Classic-3(53-54-64=171)Matthew Orum$1,750
2009Atlanta Open-4(50-50-55-62=217)Barry Schultz$1,700
2009Beaver State Fling-7(54-51-51-52=208)Avery Jenkins$2,850
2010Sunshine State ShootoutPlayoff(62-74-65=201)Nathan Doss$1,250
2010Masters CupPlayoff(78-72-71=221)Bradley Williams$1,840

NT playoff record (3-0)

YearTournamentOpponentResult
2005Skylands ClassicSteve BrinsterWon on second extra hole [6]
2010Sunshine State ClassicNathan DossWon with birdie on first extra hole [7]
2010Masters CupBradley WilliamsWon with par on first extra hole [8]

Summary

Competition TierWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-25Events
World Championships1220162222
Other Majors851183133
National Tour1466436565

Annual statistics

YearEventsWinsTop 3Earnings$ / EventRating
1988713$408$58.29x
19891146$2,173$197.55x
199015913$6,996$499.71x
1991846$4,917$614.63x
1992231423$10,667$463.78x
1993151214$12,660$844.00x
1994171117$11,105$653.24x
1995262326$19,107$734.88x
1996211619$12,523$596.33x
1997211419$13,599$647.57x
1998221319$17,812$809.641032
1999201519$22,426$1,121.301033
2000191217$22,096$1,162.951035
200119815$17,110$900.531031
200218614$30,597$1,699.831044
20031237$14,121$1,176.751036
200416511$26,520$1,657.501033
200516410$17,080$1,067.501037
200619811$22,687$1,194.051041
2007211015$39,210$1,867.141038
20081548$13,552$903.471032
200917710$14,748$867.531036
201019613$19,010$1,000.531039
20111224$5,580$465.001037
20121237$8,265$688.751039
2013924$2,461$273.441026
2014624$4,647$774.501031
2015815$5,195$649.381026
2016523$1,460$292.001024
2017100$285$2851024
Career448221341$398,732$890.03x

Masters division

Although eligible for the Masters Division in 2008 when he turned 40, Climo played his first Masters event in 2012, when he won the World Championships. He has won two additional World Championships since then (2014, 2015), bringing his total (including Open Division) to 15.

PDGA Masters World Championships(3)

YearLocationStroke MarginWinning ScoreRunner UpPrize Money
2012Charlotte, NC-9(55-46-59-51-52-60-46-26=395)Barry Schultz$3,500
2014Portland, OR-1(54-54-56-60-53-53-63-31=424)Barry Schultz$2,500
2015Pittsburgh, PA-3(56-57-64-57-60-56-27=377)Patrick Brown$2,400

National tour (6)

YearTournamentStroke MarginWinning ScoreRunner UpPrize Money
2013Memorial Championship-9(55-52-50-47=204)Jonathan Baldwin/Phil Arthur/Rex Rogers$1,500
2013Beaver State Fling-10(54-54-52-54=214)Patrick Brown$1,500
2014Memorial Championship-3(57-49-50-49=205)Patrick Brown$1,500
2015Memorial Championship-9(49-49-52-52=202)Patrick Brown$1,600
2016Memorial Championship-7(50-49-48-45=192)Patrick Brown$1,600
2016Beaver State FlingPlayoff(57-58-56-57=228)Patrick Brown$1,250

NT playoff record (1-0)

YearTournamentOpponentResult
2016Beaver State FlingPatrick BrownWon with birdie on first extra hole [9]

Summary

Competition TierWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-25Events
World Championships310555
Other Majors001455
National Tour610888

Annual statistics

YearEventsWinsTop 3Earnings$ / EventRating
2010101$1,200$1,2001039
2012211$4,325$2,162.501039
2013523$6,325$1,265.001026
2014322$5,000$1,666.671031
2015423$5,450$1,362.501026
2016322$3,850$1,283.331022
Career181012$26,150$1,452.78x

Equipment

Climo has been sponsored by Innova Champion discs throughout his career. He has a number of past and current signature discs (marked with *) and carries a combination of the following discs in competition: [10] [11]

Drivers

Fairway Drivers

Midranges

Putters

Climo's other signature discs have included: Cheetah, Cobra, Gazelle, Pegasus, Polaris LS, Raven, Scorpion, Stingray, Viper, Vulcan, Whippet, XD

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References

  1. ↑ "Ken Climo #4297". Professional Disc Golf Association. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  2. ↑ "Ken Climo - 12 time PDGA World Champion, 5 time US Champion". www.kenclimo.com.
  3. ↑ {{Cite web|url=https://www.innovadiscs.com/innova-news/thank-you-ken/?fbclid=IwY2xjawG65g1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYfMG-S3bdTEdXJBzbxP6dsGMSRmpVZcbCZZRgwjl9lNK7MlLCv-a1hFLA_aem_Xbf0qgxuw_4leM16NOQzXQ}}
  4. ↑ "PDGA Player Page: Ken Climo".
  5. ↑ "2003 USDGC Sudden Death Playoff". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-08.
  6. ↑ McAvey, C.; McAvey, A. "Warwick's Best Kept Secret" (PDF).
  7. ↑ Duesler, J. "Climo wins shootout".
  8. ↑ "Climo & Berlogar Win". Professional Disc Golf Association. May 24, 2010.
  9. ↑ "2016 BSF Masters Final Round Part 2 Climo, Brown, Smith, Ryan". Archived from the original on 2021-12-14 – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ↑ "Ken Climo".
  11. ↑ "In My Bag with 13-time Disc Golf World Champion Ken Climo". Archived from the original on 2021-12-14 – via www.youtube.com.
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